GRK2 mediates TCR-induced transactivation of CXCR4 and TCR-CXCR4 complex formation that drives PI3K{gamma}/PREX1 signaling and T cell cytokine secretion [Signal Transduction]

The immune system includes abundant examples of biologically-relevant cross-regulation of signaling pathways by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and the G protein–coupled chemokine receptor, CXCR4. TCR ligation induces transactivation of CXCR4 and TCR–CXCR4 complex formation, permitting the TCR to signal via CXCR4 to activate a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate–dependent Rac exchanger 1 protein (PREX1)–dependent signaling pathway that drives robust cytokine secretion by T cells. To understand this receptor heterodimer and its regulation, we characterized the molecular mechanisms required for TCR-mediated TCR–CXCR4 complex formation. We found that the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of CXCR4 and specifically phosphorylation of Ser-339 within this region were required for TCR–CXCR4 complex formation. Interestingly, siRNA-mediated depletion of G protein–coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) or inhibition by the GRK2-specific inhibitor, paroxetine, inhibited TCR-induced phosphorylation of CXCR4–Ser-339 and TCR–CXCR4 complex formation. Either GRK2 siRNA or paroxetine treatment of human T cells significantly reduced T cell cytokine production. Upstream, TCR-activated tyrosine kinases caused inducible tyrosine phosphorylation of GRK2 and were required for the GRK2-dependent events of CXCR4–Ser-339 phosphorylation and TCR–CXCR4 complex formation. Downstream of TCR–CXCR4 complex formation, we found that GRK2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) were r...
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Immunology Source Type: research